Coughing In Horses 1

Question 1

What causes URT disease in foals?

Answer 1

EHV 1 + 4
Equine influenza
Streptococcus equi equi

Question 2

What causes LRT disease in foals and weanlings?

Answer 2

EHV 1+4
Equine influenza 
Undifferentiated respiratory tract infection 
Rhodococcus equi 
Strep equi equi 
Parascaris equorum

Question 3

Which pathogens only cause LRT disease?

Answer 3

Undifferentiated resp tract infection
Rhodococcus equi
Parascaris equorum

Question 4

What causes Undifferentiated Bacterial Pneumonia?

Answer 4

Strep zooepidemicus

Actinobacillus, Klebsiella, Staph aureus, Bordatella, Mycoplasma

Question 5

What should you target with antibiotic therapy in cases of UBP?

Answer 5

Streps

Question 6

What clinical signs are associated with undifferentiated bacterial pneumonia?

What would you NOT expect to see?

Answer 6

Auscultable changes
Mild pyrexia
Cough

URT signs

Question 7

How can you investigate UBP?

Answer 7

History and clinical signs

Diagnostics:

Endoscopy
BAL/tracheal aspirate —> cytology + bacteriology
Bronchointerstitial pattern on rads

Question 8

What on cytology would indicate a bacterial infection/

Answer 8

Intracellular bacteria

Question 9

What treatment options are there for UBP?

Answer 9

Antibiotics
Rest
Dust free environment

Question 10

How should you approach antibiotic therapy against UBP?

Answer 10

Initially treat for streps

Then change based on C+S

Question 11

Why is a dust free environment important for patients with UBP?

Answer 11

Once the airways have become inflamed, they will become hyper responsive.

Question 12

Describe the general pathogenesis of a pathogen affecting both the upper and lower respiratory tract?

Answer 12

URT signs progressing to LRT after a few days

Question 13

What causes URT dz in adult horses?

Answer 13

Equine influenza 
EHV 1+4
Equine viral arteritis 
Equine rhinitis virus 
Strep equi equi

Question 14

What pathogens cause both upper and lower respiratory tract infections in adult horses?

Answer 14

Equine flu
EHV 1+4
EVA
ERV
Strep equi equi

Question 15

What ONLY causes LRT dz in adult horses?

Answer 15

Strep zooepidemicus
Strep pneumoniae
Pasteurella/ actinobacillus

Question 16

What horses mainly get URT dz?

Answer 16

Less common

Mainly in younger animals (1-2 years)

Question 17

What type of pathogen is a more common cause of LRT dz?

Answer 17

Bacteria
Or
Bacteria and virus in combination

Question 18

Describe the common pathogenesis of LRT dz

Answer 18

Virus damage airways resulting in reduced defence and secondary bacterial infection

Question 19

What clinical signs are associated with URT dz?

Answer 19

Fever
Nasal discharge
Coughing
Enlarged submandibular LNs

Question 20

What clinical signs are associated with LRT dz?

Answer 20

\+/- Fever
\+/- Nasal discharge
Coughing
Mucoid tracheal secretion
Poor performance 
May be sub-clinical

Question 21

How is equine influenza SPREAD?

Answer 21

Inhalation

Question 22

Describe the pathogenesis of equine influenza

Answer 22

URT + LRT

Loss of ciliated epithelium and secondary bacterial infection

Question 23

Why would you not perform virus isolation from blood in suspected equine influenza cases?

Answer 23

Doesn’t go from resp tract into blood

Question 24

How can you isolate EIV ?

Answer 24

Tracheal wash / BAL